Rev - Chapter 1
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· 1 viewExamine the first chapter of Revelation. note the themes introduced. Note the main focus. Note the style of providing the keys of interpretation.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
What we cover tonight
What we cover tonight
Chapter 1: John, Patmos, 7 churches, 7 spirits, 7 lampstands, 7 stars, but most importantly. Jesus. and God His Father.
Welcome
Welcome
(Opener for each class ) who am I: Ken Geer
Thanks for visiting our church. If your a member of another church, you remain a member of that church, and we bless your church, and thank you for joining us for this study. We look foreword to more unity in the body of Jesus.. each church of Jesus is a candle in the dark and we are praying that we may all grow brighter, in these end times. we must all work together.
Other churches may have slightly different perspectives on Revelation . That is just fine. I am comfortable with that . It is OK to have differences. I will give you my view, and why I hold my view. I will do my best to accurately represent other major views. we are looking to study the Bible, not confirm our bias. so we must be willing to study.
Our desire is to be like the good Bereans. they were challenged with a strange new teaching that Jesus was the messiah and had been crucified. they had to deal with a pretty unsettling set of thoughts. but they got through it.
If you do have a corrections for me. you may briefly state you concern in the class in the form of a question, but it would be best for others if we hold our discussion/or disagreements on these things till after class. - I am happy to learn and grow. I am not the final authority on revelation. For that I refer you to Jesus.
Pray
Pray
Invite the Holy spirit, ask him to give us a spirit of humility unity and love. Make us more like Jesus.
Video (7 churches of revelation)
Video (7 churches of revelation)
to catch attention, and pull people in - but then do intro.
Intro
Intro
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter One: A Very Special Book (Revelation 1)
Don’t ever prophesy,” said American humorist Josh Billings, “for if you prophesy wrong, nobody will forget it; and if you prophesy right, nobody will remember it.”
God did not listen to Josh Billings… he speaks prophesy to us all the time
Read Chapter 1 out loud.
The main theme
The main theme
(after reading chapter 1) Where you blessed already? WOW. AMEN!
who is the central character of revelation?
Jesus! It is immediately clear and observable in this first chapter as it spotlights Jesus.
This is a description of Jesus you don't see the gospels. What is different? This is not the Jesus that is hidden inside the flesh of man (incarnate) this is the glorified Jesus with his new body, and it is fascinating. This is one reason we cannot be healthy Christians if we ignore reading “revelation” because it is in described the Risen Jesus, and to know our Lord fully we need to see him in all his reveal dimensions.
Jesus is the central character of revelation.
It is His revelation
It is his Message to the Churches
It is Him upon the throne as the Lamb opening the seals.
It is him that is coming in the clouds in Glory as the Conquering King of Kings.
He is the judge of the whole earth
He is the bridegroom ushering His Bride into the Heavenly city.
Jesus is the Chief subject of Revelation
All that happens in revelation is because of Jesus.
This is a pretty awesome thought considering all that is in Revelation.
Are you ready for Chapter 1?
Prologue
Prologue
what is the title of this book of the bible? v1.1a
“revelation” “revealing” “apocalypse”
this is an open book. it is not closed like god had Daniel close up and seal what he saw.
10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.
who’s revelation is it?
It belongs to Jesus.
It is a Revelation of Jesus
Jesus is the center of this book, and it is in this book we see the glorified Jesus! The Jesus who is coming back. The jesus that is finishing up all that has been started.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
What is the purpose of this letter? v1
“to show his servants the things that must soon take place.
rev 22:20
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
He is coming soon, and to that we say “Come, Lord Jesus”
(Gk. maranathá). The representation in Greek of an Aramaic expression, most likely “Our Lord, come!”
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
It is in reading Revelation that we can really learn to love his appearing.
who is it written to? v1
“his servants” v1 (thats us!)
is this a contradiction to v4? :the seven churches in Asia
It was addressed to seven actual churches! more on this later. But for now, know that this is to all of God’s servants.
the things that must soon take place…
How soon is “soon”? Is this proof this revelation is false?
meaning of “soon”
remember last week. last “days” perhaps last 2 thousand years? in God days
Who is the letter from? (trick question)
The delivery boy.
The delivery boy.
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
John is just the delivery boy the message is from God. It is a revelation of Jesus.
God —> Jesus —>His angel —>John—> letter—> US!(with H.S)
The Bond-Servants
The Bond-Servants
What does John and us have in common? v1
John is one of us: a servant.
That what we are too!
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,
Bond-Servants.
Bond Servants, having lived in captivity to Sin, Jesus has set us free, and we are now giving our lives back to Jesus, as Bond-servants. out o love that his has Poured out into us.
The blessing
The blessing
3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
Greeting to the 7 Churches
Greeting to the 7 Churches
John, is the messenger, the letters are from jesus!
John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Which John?
Of course it’s John look at him!
Of course it’s John look at him!
His servant John...
2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
Is this John the beloved? - author of John, 1,2,3 john, and revelation?
Are there any other Johns? not that we know of, but sure there could be.
Why do we know it has John the beloved?
Why do we know it has John the beloved?
He is not explaining extravagant credentials. an imposter Would need to assert his place. This is a humble man. but he is also asserting that this revelation came from Jesus, and knew it would be accepted as such, that means the churches would have known it was from the John they knew.
The John: “who bore witness to the word of god” - John did this by writing the gospel of John!
The John: “who bore witness to the testimony of Jesus Christ”
24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
This is the John who walked with Jesus, and Talked with Jesus, and Ate with Jesus, and did everything with Jesus, and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was loved by Jesus.
The john who says:
1 John 1:1–4 (ESV)
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life
— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—
3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
That John is surely the same john that now writes in revelation.
“John, who bore witness to the Word of God”
Yes this is most certainly John the beloved.
And think for a moment what this must be like for John.
The last time He say Jesus alive in the human flesh he hung upon a cross.
26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
And John did, and took care of her to the end of her days on earth.
John saw Jesus after the Resurrection a few times. But that final time must have been most profound for it is the last words of Jesus that John writes in his Gospel, a moment where Peter, a bit miffed that he would glorify God in a death that would not be his desire, asks what will happen to John.
22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” 24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
John knows that he will die. but he also knows that he will get to see Jesus again before he dies.
Can you imagine waiting for that day. 33 AD, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 years have passed. it is now most likely AD 95. The persecution of the church is getting severe. And John is now about 80 years old. He is still waiting for the fulfillment of that promise to See Jesus.
Who is this written to?
Who is this written to?
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
A message coming through John to Seven churches (in particular) seven real churches in Asia.
But actually from Jesus.
Grace and Peace to you from Jesus.
Same greeting you get in epistles. Rom 1:7; 1 Cor 1:3; 2 Cor 1:2; Gal 1:3; Eph 1:2; Phil 1:2; Col 1:2; 1 Thes 1:1; 2 Thes 1:2; 1 Tim 1:2; Titus 1:4; Philem 3; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Peter 1:2; 2 John 3;
Revelation is not just an apocalyptic vision, but an epistle to the churches of God.
what do we learn about God? v4
him who is
and him who was
and him who is to come,
and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
Eternal GOD, on a Throne, with Seven spirits. Later we will see these 7 spirits mentioned again.
Rev 3:1; Rev 4:5; Rev 5:6;
They are sometimes called 7 torches of fire, or 7 eyes sent out into all the earth.
what do we learn about Jesus v5
5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Jesus is
a faithful witness
the firstborn of the dead
the ruler of the kings on the earth
the one who loves us
the one who frees us from sin (with his BLOOD!)
the one who made us a kingdom of God
the one who Priests to his GOD & Father!
worthy to receive glory(praise, honor, brightness, splendor) forever and ever
one who has dominion(power & Authority) forever and ever!
AMEN
John appears to be overwhelmed with the vision of Jesus he has witnessed, and he can barley mention Jesus without gushing out in worship about who he is.
are you stuck by any of those descriptions ?
John sees Jesus
John sees Jesus
This is it. the moment John has been waiting for for 60 years. He is going to see Jesus face to face, and He cant even wait to describe the vision, he starts gushing about How we will all get to see Him as John has, now every eye will see him.
Coming on the clouds of Heaven
Coming on the clouds of Heaven
7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
The Jewish Talmud has a discussion about an alleged contradiction, about whether the messiah will come in the clouds or on a donkey. we remember well the story of him arriving on a donkey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. It was prophesied by Zechariah.
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
but in several paces in the bible we see also that the Messiah comes in clouds and thick darkness.
Zeph 1:15; Joel 2:2; Eze 30:3;
3 For the day is near, the day of the Lord is near; it will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.
It is a mystery to argue about until you find out that the messiah was to come twice. once as a saviour (A Prince of Peace on a donkey), and a second time as both a sign for the final harvest of Jews. and as victorious King in the clouds to bring judgement upon the nations.
Zechariah also prophesied the messiah would come and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will suddenly see Jesus and weep and morn, as they receive mercy. This day is also mentioned in in our verse in revelation and is connected with seeing Jesus in the clouds.
10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.
7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy.
How amazing, How glorious. Jesus sees the salvation of the Jews when he comes again as God pours out the Grace.
10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.
even so. AMEN.
v8. God again
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Alpha and Omega
him who is
and him who was
and him who is to come,
the Almighty
much like verse 4.
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
him who is
and him who was
and him who is to come,
and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
twice now we see the eternal timelessness of God the father. the one Daniel calls “the ancient of Day” in Dan 7.
God is Eternal and almighty and His 7 spirits are fully multi-dimensional and are before his throne and yet also able to search everywhere even our hearts, even the depths of God.
10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
John, More than a Bond-Servant with us
John, More than a Bond-Servant with us
Look how John identifies with the and to those in the 7 churches of Asia.
your brother in the tribulation in Jesus
your partner in the tribulation in Jesus
your brother in the kingdom in Jesus
your partner in the kingdom in Jesus
Your brother in the patient endurance in Jesus
Your partner in the patient endurance in Jesus
This is what Jesus had told the Disciples about the tribulation in Matt 24 .
SUMMARY: Therefore stay AWAKE, Be ready, he who endures to the End will be saved.
On the Island Patmos
On the Island Patmos
why was John on the Island?
on account of he word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
what was John doing?
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet
what is the Lord’s Day?
lets ask Wiki…
In Christianity, the Lord's Day refers to Sunday, the principal day of communal worship. It is the first day of the week in the Hebrew calendar and traditional Christian calendars. It is observed by most Christians as the weekly memorial of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is said to have been raised from the dead early on the first day of the week. The phrase appears in Rev. 1:10.
the sabath was still called the sabath by the christians and dsciples. so this is not likely a nother name for the sabath.
Sunday was the day that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, an act that forever separated Christianity from any other religion (John 20:1). Since that time, believers have gathered on the first day of the week to celebrate His victory over sin and death
7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.
1 cor 16:2
2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.
lets not have any nonsense about Christians needing to celebrate on the Saturday to be true Christians. that is not scriptural.
what did the loud trumpet voice say?
11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
This is the way god likes to communicate with us. We wants us to write the revelations down so we can review them.
Judge them. And if correct be built up by them
2 And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.
Jesus letters to 7 churches
Jesus letters to 7 churches
Where are these cities?
The Apostle Paul had sent letters to seven churches—Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colossae, and Thessalonica—and now JESUS is sending a personal letter to each of seven different churches!
See the map.
See the video documentary series: https://vimeo.com/589470462
Is that all the churches of the world at that time?
No, Antioch, Corinth, etc...
Why these churches?
John may have had direct over sight to these churches before he was exiled.
Just like the letters to all those other cities, Rome, Thessalonica and Ephesus, and Corinth were for those churches specifically at that time, they were also to be passed around and shared as they had messages that all Christians needed to learn from.
They are for us today too!
I turned to see the Son of Man
I turned to see the Son of Man
Revelation 1:12–16 (ESV)
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,
13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.
14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,
15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
what do you notice?
what does this mean? (to a first century jew)?
what does it remind you of elsewhere in the bible?
John’s response
John’s response
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
after waiting 60 years. John fell over. When John sees his best friend Jesus, in his Glorified state, the power and Awesomeness and fear in his presence causes his body to loose all semblance of autonomy… he falls down like he was dead. a very humbling act.
Outline of revelation v19
Outline of revelation v19
Revelation has it’s own outline.
19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.
things you have seen - Chapter 1
things that are - Chapter 2-3
those things that are to take place after this. Chp 4-22
The Bible Exposition Commentary (Outline)
I. THINGS WHICH THOU HAST SEEN—chapter 1
John’s vision of the exalted Christ
II. THINGS WHICH ARE—chapters 2–3
The messages to the seven churches
III. THINGS TO COME—chapters 4–22
A. The throne in heaven—4–5
B. The Tribulation on earth—6–19
1. The first half—6–9
2. The middle—10–14
3. The last half—15–19
C. The kingdom of Christ—20
D. The new heavens and earth—21–22
but you will notice as Jack Hayford teaches that Revelation is a bit like pealing an orange if you can do it all in one piece.
it loops around itself several times.
Interpretation of the symbols
Interpretation of the symbols
We don’t have to guess
20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
7 stars = angles of the churches
7 lampstands = 7 churches
Jesus was standing in the midst of the Lamp stands! with 7 stars in his hand (angles that were over the church)
Next week
Next week
Chapter 2 - jesus speaks to the first 4 of his churches: in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira,
Chapter 3- Sardis, Philadelphia, Lodicea